Top 10 Rushers in Nebraska - Year by Year

Posted Friday, November 13, 2009, at 10:44 PM

Genoa's Ken Baker "The Original 1000 Yard Man"

A Look In The Rear View Mirror:

I initiated the "Bobby Mills 1000 yard Club" in 1975, and I thought it would be a kick to list the Top 10 Rushers each year as the 35TH annual list approaches. The idea for this 1000 Yard Club was the brainchild of my late Father-In-Law Kenneth Baker. Dad was a World-Herald All-State QB from Genoa in 1941. In those days, there was only ONE All-State team and for a Class C player to make that elite list indicated the athlete must have possessed outstanding qualities. Ken Baker could have very well made a defensive team at Linebacker had there been such a team.

To this day, Kenneth Baker-Genoa is the only Running Back to ever make the list as an honorary 1000 yard rusher. Dad said he could never prove it and that's why he thought I should start this thing.....so other outstanding RB's in Nebraska would never have to wonder again.

We'll do 2 each day starting with 1975, the "maiden voyage" 1000 Yard list that first appeared in the Grand Island Independent.

1975 Bobby Mills 1000 Yard Club - Top 10 Rushers:

1. Kent Beckman - Elgin..............1,748

2. Bill Bruhn - Dawson-Verdon........1,743

3. Monty Birnie - Callaway...........1,570

4. Tim O'Donnell - Creighton Prep... 1,507

5. Brad Shanahan - Blair.............1,504

6. Tim McCrady - Plainview...........1,449

7. Tim Wurth - Omaha Burke...........1,427

8. Mike Lichti - Shickley............1,382

9. Steve Buss - Adams................1,370

10. Mike Delka - Superior............1,366

1976 Top 10

1. Brian Hahn - Hampton..............1,711

2. Don Coleman - Gordon..............1,696

3. Jeff Leise - Hartington C.C.......1,661

4. Rod Havelone-Platteview...........1,532

5. Dan Becker - Beaver City..........1,516

6. Scott Phillips - Pleasanton.......1,507

7. Ron Hagen - Wheatland.............1,480

8. Steve Cole - Auburn...............1,410

9. Dennis Holsteen - Nelson..........1,378

10. Craig Johnson - Omaha Westside...1,362

Tomorrow, 1977 and 1978 will appear. If you will look closely in the coming days, you may even see the son of an athlete who appeared on the list in the early years pop up 20 years or so later..........how cool is that?